Clayton State Celebrates Scholars and
Donors at Annual Scholarship Luncheon

Giving

Clayton State University celebrated some of its finest scholars, and the donors who made their dreams real, at the Apr. 18 Clayton State University Foundation Scholarship Luncheon.

A chance to bring various Clayton State scholarship recipients together with the individuals and organizations that made their scholarships possible, the Foundation’s Scholarship Luncheon drew a strong turnout of recipients, donors and Clayton State administrators, in addition to Foundation Board Chairman and Heritage Bank CEO Leonard Moreland.

“The Foundation is charged with going out and finding funds for the University to make dreams real,” he said in his remarks to the audience. “Scholarships improve the community, they help it to prosper even more. They help businesses, schools, the public. This is a very worthwhile cause.”

“Our donors have made an act of faith, an act of judgment, to make a better life for our students,” commented Clayton State President Dr. Thomas Hynes in his opening remarks. “The return on investment is high when investing in Clayton State students, and the students here today have shown your trust to be warranted, and have repaid it, time and time again.”

Among the speakers at the luncheon were three scholarship recipients; Tracye Lamar (Ellenwood), Todd Burke (Columbus) and Loretta Smith (Locust Grove).

Lamar, one of the 2012/2013 group of Presidential Scholars, noted that her scholarship has allowed her to participate in Study Abroad, various leadership activities and to volunteer in the community. A former dual-enrollment student at Clayton State, Lamar is a sophomore academically, double majoring in nursing and healthcare management.

“This has all been possible because people like you make my dreams real,” she said.

Business major Burke, like Lamar a Presidential Scholar and an officer in Clayton State’s chapter of the Alpha Lambda Delta first-year student honor society, said his scholarship gives him a focus.

“It gives you something to push yourself,” he said.

Smith, the mother of four and a former Army National Guardsman who holds a J.E. Edmonds Scholarship, is an English major working towards a secondary education teaching certification. Her long term goal is to become a college English professor.

“My journey at Clayton State has been an awesome one,” she said. “The J.E. Edmonds Scholarship helps me achieve my dream. I’d like to thank my donor for helping my dream become real.”

Speaking on behalf of all scholarship donors was Dr. Eugene Hatfield, retired professor of history at Clayton State and president of the Clayton State Retirees Association, which has endowed a graduate scholarship at the University its members served for so many years.

“I urge you to continue to contribute to Clayton State, the university where dreams are made real,” he said to his fellow donors.